JAMAICAN DANCEHALL DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES IN THE UK THIS WEEKEND!

New York filmmaker Cori McKenna will debut the female-focused dance documentary ‘Bruk Out!’ at the upcoming Sheffield Doc/Fest in the UK this weekend.

Latonya Styles

Bruk Out! looks deep inside the energetic world of Jamaican dancehall culture through the eyes of dancehall queens.

Often criticized as lewd and aggressively sexual, these daring performers turned Jamaican street dance into a massive global phenomenon.

The documentary follows six of the boldest and bravest dancehall queens from around the world Japan, Italy, America, Poland, Spain, and of course, Jamaica they prepare to battle for the biggest trophy (and cash prize) in all of dancehall.

McKenna spent two years uncovering the struggles the queens face, but rarely expose to their audience, including body issues, poverty, and domestic abuse.

The dancers bare their skin and their souls to dispel myths about this hyper-sexual dance form, explaining why it brings them pure joy, a sense of self, and the strength to overcome.

With determination, humor and hope, the six resilient dancers converge at the biggest Dancehall Queen competition in the world, where some dreams come to an end, and one woman is crowned ‘the queen’.

Featuring commentary by dancehall artists Beenie Man, Major Lazer, Elephant Man, Tifa, Voicemail, Konshens, Ding Dong, and Mr Vegas, as well as Jamaican dancehall queens Mad Michelle, Latonya Style and Queen Latesha, Bruk Out! shares a unique perspective from within the world of dancehall.

“Bruk Out! does for dancehall what the film Rize did for krumping. Reggae dancehall is more than a part of Jamaican culture, it’s now a global phenomenon. This movie brings you inside a very raw, intimate community where these strong, international women express themselves through dance,” said McKenna.